Image recording apparatus

Abstract

Provided is an image recording apparatus including: a carriage configured to support a recording head that ejects a liquid to a recording medium and configured to perform reciprocating motion in the scanning direction; a liquid containing portion configured to contain liquid; a tube configured to connect the recording head and the liquid containing portion to supply liquid from the liquid containing portion to the recording head, the tube including a first section that extends in the scanning direction and a second section that extends in the scanning direction above the first section; and a support portion configured to support the first section and be secured to an apparatus main body, and in the support portion, a rotating member is provided below the second section at a position facing the second section.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image recording apparatus comprising:
 a carriage configured to support a recording head that ejects liquid and configured to move in a scanning direction; 
 a liquid containing portion configured to contain liquid that is supplied to the recording head; 
 a tube configured to connect the recording head and the liquid containing portion to supply liquid from the liquid containing portion to the recording head, the tube including (1) a first section that extends in the scanning direction and (2) a second section that extends in the scanning direction above the first section; 
 a support portion configured to support the first section and be secured to an apparatus main body; and 
 a rotating member provided in the support portion and having a peripheral surface configured to contact the second section of the tube and to rotate in a case where the carriage is moving. 
 
     
     
       2. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first section extends from a connecting portion connected with the liquid containing portion to a first side in the scanning direction, and is supported by the support portion so as not to move while the carriage is moving, and
 wherein the second section (1) curves from a section, which is supported by the support portion, of the first section, (2) extends to a second side opposing to the first side in the scanning direction, and (3) moves while the carriage is moving. 
 
     
     
       3. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium along a conveying path,
 wherein the liquid containing portion is disposed at a position that deviates from the conveying path to the second side in the scanning direction. 
 
     
     
       4. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the carriage has a standby position at a position that deviates from the conveying path to the second side in the scanning direction, and
 wherein the connecting portion of the tube with the carriage is located above the connecting portion of the tube with the liquid containing portion in a state where the carriage is at the standby position. 
 
     
     
       5. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a guide plate extending over the conveying path in the scanning direction, and guides the first section of the tube,
 wherein the support portion is secured at a position in the guide plate above the conveying path, and 
 wherein the rotating member is disposed in the support portion on a side closer to the standby position. 
 
     
     
       6. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member is a cylindrical rotating member, and
 wherein a rotation axis of the rotating member is in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. 
 
     
     
       7. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral surface contacts the second section of the tube in a case where the second section sags down, and rotates while the carriage is moving. 
     
     
       8. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve configured to control supply of liquid via the tube,
 wherein the support portion includes a valve holder portion configured to hold the valve. 
 
     
     
       9. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the rotating member is disposed in the support portion on a side closer to the liquid containing portion than the valve holder portion, and
 wherein a height of an upper end of the rotating member is not more than a height of an upper end of the valve holder portion of the support portion. 
 
     
     
       10. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guide sheet, one end of which is secured to the support portion and the other end of which is secured to the carriage, the guide sheet guiding a section of the tube from a section supported by the support portion to a section connected to the carriage; and 
 a tube holder slider that includes an insertion portion to which the guide sheet is inserted, and a holding portion configured to hold the tube, the tube holder slider bundling the guide sheet and the tube at a predetermined location in the extending direction of the guide sheet. 
 
     
     
       11. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the tube holder slider includes:
 a first tube holder slider that bundles the guide sheet and the tube in the vicinity of one end of the guide sheet; and 
 a second tube holder slider that bundles the guide sheet and the tube in the vicinity of the other end of the guide sheet, and 
 wherein, in a state where the carriage is at a standby position, which is on the same side as a side of securing the liquid containing portion and deviates from the conveying path of the recording medium in the scanning direction, (1) the support portion is located on a side closer to the first tube holder slider in the scanning direction, and (2) the rotating member is disposed on a side closer to the second tube holder slider in the support portion in the scanning direction. 
 
     
     
       12. The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising the recording head. 
     
     
       13. An image recording apparatus comprising:
 a carriage configured to support a recording head that ejects liquid and configured to perform reciprocating motion in a scanning direction; 
 a liquid containing portion configured to contain liquid that is supplied to the recording head; 
 a tube configured to supply liquid from the liquid containing portion to the recording head, the tube being connected so as to be laid between a first connecting portion connected with the liquid containing portion and a second connecting portion connected with the carriage which is located above the first connecting portion; and 
 a support portion configured to support a side of the first connecting portion, and to be secured to an apparatus main body, 
 wherein the support portion includes a rotating member that has a peripheral surface, and 
 wherein the peripheral surface contacts a sagging section of the tube, and rotates while the carriage is moving.